In recent years there has been increasing pressure and demands on women to breastfeed. Bring up breastfeeding in the company of new parents and you’ll find opinions are split: there are some women, who in the real world are reasonable people, yet who have become strident crusaders for the breastfeeding cause, and then there are others who have, with some guilt and soul-searching, chosen to bottle feed their child.

In an ideal world all mothers would breastfeed and there are many obvious physical and emotional advantages for both mother and baby. No baby formula manufacturer has yet been able to come up with anything better than an approximation of human milk, whereas your own milk continually adapts to your baby’s individual nutritional requirements. Healthy human milk contains the delicate balance and quantities of proteins, fats and carbohydrates necessary for your baby’s development

Some women choose to bottle feed because:

Lack of milk supply. Some women find they simply can’t produce enough milk to satisfy their baby’s needs. When their baby can’t put on weight because he’s not receiving enough milk, some women, who may desperately want to breastfeed, are forced to bottle feed their infant.

Lack of confidence. Some women never feel confident about their ability to feed their baby. They worry that their baby is still hungry, isn’t thriving, or that they can’t produce enough milk for their growing child. They find the visual aspect of bottle feeding reassuring – they can see exactly how much milk is going in.

Returning to work. Balancing breastfeeding and working can be very stressful and a lot of hard work. Some working mothers opt for a combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding, but often your breast milk supply will dwindle because of the lack of regular feeds.

Cultural pressures. Some women find it difficult (or impossible) to breastfeed with people other than their family around, which is very restricting. By choosing to bottle feed, they have more freedom to move around outside the home with their new baby.

Illness. One bout of mastitis is enough to put many first-time mothers off breastfeeding for life! The early trials and tribulations of breastfeeding should not be underestimated – it is easier for both mother and child to bottle feed.

Flexibilty. With bottle feeding you can share the load. Your partner can get up in the night to feed, you can leave your baby with a relative and have some me-time. By sharing the feeding duties, your baby is no longer completely dependent on you.

REMEMBER!

Whether you decide to feed your baby by breast or bottle, she will always be mother fed. Don’t feel stressed over your decision – as long as you can feed her in a positive and calm manner, she will benefit from being close to you.

More related reading:

Breastfeeding is best for babies and provides many benefits. Combined breast and bottle feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of your own breast milk. Always consult your doctor, midwife or health care professional for advice about feeding your baby. This post is part of the Early Life Nutrition story.